In King Henry V, King Henry V appears to be a man of many different personalities. One of which he shows us in his conversation with Montjoy. The conversation Henry has with Montjoy Henry demonstrates that he is overly confident if not cocky. The odds of Henry claiming victory are not good. He is out numbered at least five to one. Still, he persists in going through France to claim the throne despite his admitting to Montjoy that his men are weak and sick (3.7.119-147).
Even though Henry knows that it is not wise to tell Montjoy of his disadvantages, Henry rubs it in Montjoy's face by saying, "Though 'tis no wisdom to confess so much / Unto an enemy of craft and vantage(124-125). This clearly points out that Henry is not afraid of his lack of soldiers and their lack of strength. Henry basically tells Montjoy that he is going to take France and that he does not mind telling Montjoy or the king of France that he has a small army full of sick soldiers.
Henry does not mind telling Montjoy that his men are sick because Henry believes that he has the superior army. Henry of , "Who when they were in health, I tell thee, herald, I thought upon one pair of English legs / Did march three Frenchmen" (129-130). These lines spoken by Harry simply mean that his soldiers are the better soldiers. He is saying that if his men were healthy that he could still defeat the French despite the smaller army England has. At this point Henry should beg for mercy from the French because they now know of Henry's few and sick men. Rather than beg for mercy or retreat to England, Henry in his cocky state, says stuff that can do nothing but provoke France to destroy Henry.
Henry also believes that his men, even thought sick, are still better than the French army, for the king of England says, "those few I have Almost no better than so many French"(127-128). Simply stated, Harry's men are sick and few in numbers but they are still better soldiers than the French. If you(the reader) will recall the previous paragraph you will see that when his soldiers were healthy, Henry thought that one of his soldiers was equal to three French soldiers. Again Henry seems to push for a conflict with the French. I believe that Henry secretly wants a fight. A fight is the only thing that could possibly come from Henry's cockiness. Harry is practically daring the French to come to a showdown. His only motivation for this is that he must believe that he has something that could help his smaller weaker army prevail.
Henry knows that he is the smaller force. He is outnumbered five to one! The odds might have been in his favor had he not had to leave soldiers in England to protect his kingdom. Knowing how badly he is outnumbered and having three of his friends betray him, he is still very confident that he will take France. He will not run from a decisive battle (Shakespeare Resource Center).
Henry believes he will prevail because he believes that God is his leader (137). This could be the primary reason that the king of England seems so over confident. In stories from the Old Testament of the Bible, it is seen that armies such as the weaker Israelite army were able to defeat their opponents with God on their side. If Henry believes that God is on his side than he has a very good reason to seem overconfident. stories of the Israelite army prove that with God as your leader you will triumph over stronger and larger armies. This is why Henry seems to provoke a fight with a bigger and stronger army.
In the book of Exodus, chapter 14, Pharoah sent his men after the fleeing Israelites. Pharoah's men hugely outnumberd the Israelites. They were very fearful for their lives, but Moses new that God was on his side. God gave Moses the power to part the Red sea for the Israelites to cross safely. When Pharoah's men arrived to cross the sea, Moses stretched out his hand so that the waters would flow over the soldiers and drown them. God saved this underpowered and overmatched group of people. With stories like this, no wonder Henry is not afraid.
Henry is once again back to boasting and provoking when Henry says, "Tell him we will come on / Through France himself and such another neighbour / Stand in our way" (138-140). Henry is not just saying he can beat France, but now he is bragging that he can defeat both France and anyone willing to assist France. It might be useful to restate that Henry believes that God is his leader. The theory that God is his leader can help us understand why Harry would make this new threat. From here, Henry goes on to make his final treats.
Henry says,
Go, bid thy master well advise himself. If we may pass, we will. If we be hindered, / We shall your tawny ground with your red blood / Discolour. And so, Montjoy, fare you well. The sum of all our answer is but this: / We would not seek a battle as we are, / Nor as we are we say we will not shun it" (140-146).
Even though Henry's army is smaller, he is advising France not resist. Basically Henry has turned the situation around. Instead of Montjoy asking for Harry to withdraw or surrender, Henry is telling the French to not resist or they will be destroyed.
Henry is a very cocky and over confident character because he is persistent in trying to take over France even though his soldiers are few and sick. He also believes that God is leading him, which is probably the most important factor in his over confidence. After all, the stories of the Israelites conquering mighty foes and mere men such as Moses being given power by God to part seas is a very good reason to seem cocky, esspecially if you believe that God is in your corner. With help like that Henry could wipe out his enemies no matter how bad the odds were against him.